The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-09-16
,uE COMING ELECTION.
statement of the Situation BY
An Outsider.

,,.r Press: 1t may we'll be be-
.hot the future of Dakota de-
+, treat measure upon the ac-
If her people in the campaign
i, has lust been opened. There is
a,aIlelin the history of the United
os TO the injustice which the peo-
!, this territory have suffered. Far
ar equipped years ago in the num-
and character of its population
were large number Of the states
he time of their admission, pos
al of developed material resources
ndantly sufficient to qualify it for
nbership in the Union, paying to-
contribution to the national rev.
Greater than that OF many of the
"a, whose senators and representa-
IS sit at Washington to make it the
u of their prejudlces or their poll
Il plaus. a party plot has kept Da-
"a territory until the wrong has
some national disgrace. Because
vote of the territory is republican,
lie the lower house OF congress is
mocratic, admission has been refused
Rsion after session. 1t is one of the
Is,,rdities of American politics to
"a convention after convention of the
(mocratic party declaring in favor
home rule for Ireland, while the
me party deliberately denies to the
ople of this great and prosperous
bmmunity the fundamental rights of
btional citizenship.
There are real hardships involved in
bis tyranny Of the majority. Only
he people who live in Dakota know
ow serious these are. 10 be denied
fny voice in choosing chief magis-
tate and to have no vote in consider
he the laws made for the nation is a
bolitical outrage. When committed
pom body Of half million of people
assumes dimensions OF wrong such
4 have melted active rebellion among
beope less orderly and well poised.
R}ut there is, besides this, a substantial
hetglment to the material advance
heat of the territory. The fostering
Col the fine public school system which
khe people of Dakota, in common with
bther communities in the northwest,
htye Instituted, demands domestic
Control of domestic affairs, and is ham
[pcsed and retarded by the territor-
lal status. Far worse Is the admins
Etratlon of justice. Nowhere else in the
limited States is the machinery of the
courts as wholly inadequate for the
transaction of public business as in
Dakota. The federal provision for a
territory is powerless to do what ought
Ito bt done. The courts are hopelessly
lin arrears. The trial of the simplest
cases, involving hundreds OF miles Of
travel and inordinate costs, becomes
impossible. The law is almost at a
standstill in the territory, and must so
remain until admission is granted.
The solitary pretext on which the
Democratic party has hitherto refused
toilsten TO the appeal OF Dakota is the
pFetcnse that the people OF the terri
tcry had not themselves decided what
they wanted. Although legislature
after legislature had called for diyis-
lon. although the separation of this
enormous area into independent parts
WAS clearly indicated by the mere
physical facts apparent to any one,
although election after election had
Shown that division and admission
We're linked together in the popular
mind. and although successive consti-
iutional conventions had demonstrated
that the people of south Dakota,
nearly unanimous in their demand,
We're ready and eager to enter upon
statehood, the tlimsy assumption was
repeated endlessly that this was mere
political scheming, encouraged by re-
publican oiliceholders, who saw pros
pect OF advancement for themselves in
the constitution OF two governments is
Instead Of one. Now the time has
come when that preteXt can be silenced
forever, and the last excuse for inactton
OF refusal by congress can be swept
away.
An election is to be held at which
The people of Dakota, north as well as
south, are to express their preference
me territory is otlicered by democrats
Ever since the present administration
came into office, democratic mission.
ares have been busy, as party meas
ilFe. in trying to cultivate a sentiment
IN favor of admission as whole
IAey have had time to do their ut
most. Ii, now, it should be found that
Dakota stands just where she always
mas, lrm for division and admission, 1t
could never be claimed again that she
hal not declared herself. 1t is this
which makes the coming campaign
one OF the first Importance. OF one
.hlng, at least, the people should make
sure; that there is full vote. Let
mere be nothing this time behind
winch cowardly congress may skulk
IA It's desire to do injustice without
Shame to Dakota. Whatever its deci-
son may be, let the voice of Dakota be
heard in its full volume. Let her peo:
PIE declare once for ali what they will
nave, and then let those who deny
,r,m lilem take up the responsibility
mere is no reason to believe that
opinion has changed. There is no rea
$ son why it should. 1t is best today, as
IT always has been, for every interest
o. the nation as well as of Dakota
lhat the territory be divided, and ad
mission be granted to the divisions
mus formed. The people who are suf
lerers by the present extraordinary
GENIAL of right, should say this once
more, in tones so full and emphatic
mat the decision need never be re
peated.